Kurtis Rourke and his NFL Draft stock falter in Indiana’s playoff loss to Notre Dame

Hoosiers QB Kurtis Rourke and his NFL Draft stock falter in Indiana’s playoff loss to Notre Dame

The college football world focused on South Bend on Friday night for the first CFP matchup between Notre Dame and Indiana. From a scouting standpoint, it proved to be the final pre-draft impression on Hoosiers QB Kurtis Rourke.

As was the case in the other two matchups when Rourke and Indiana faced off against a good defense laden with NFL talent, the game failed to elevate Rourke. Consider it an opportunity lost for the Canadian standout.

On the biggest stage, Rourke came out cold. It wasn’t all on him, of course, but that’s part of the draft evaluation picture, too. Rourke wasn’t capable of raising his own level of play, or that of his teammates, against a disciplined and aggressive Notre Dame defense.

That was true in Columbus earlier this season when Rourke and the Hoosiers laid a giant egg against Ohio State. The hopes that Rourke could transcend his MAC background (a three-year starter for the Ohio Bobcats) and make the big jump to higher draft prominence by impressing against big-game opponents just didn’t materialize. A dismal first three quarters, when Rourke threw a critical early red zone INT and struggled to find rhythm or his receivers with his trademark accuracy, all but sank any hope for Day 2 in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Rourke is still a very accomplished and capable quarterback, one eminently worthy of drafting with the reasonable expectation that he can immediately become a reliable backup quarterback and potential spot starter. The 24-year-old has a high floor, with a good arm, ideal size, functional athletic ability and uncanny accuracy in hitting moving targets.

Now the question becomes: does Rourke opt for the middle-round NFL fate, or does he head back home to Canada and become the No. 1 pick in the CFL?

We should learn a lot more about that answer at the Shrine Bowl, where Rourke has already accepted an invite to show what he can do in the all-star environment.